Abzan Midrange splash
Basically, what you'd expect. This build takes advantage of counters and even energy on a small degree. With enough artifacts, the mana base can pretty easily curve out and allow the use of the best cards at each mana drop slot. Very efficient and versatile creatures that still remain strong late game.
The creature base and removal can deal with the aggressive Mardu Dwarf Aggro decks, while main board, you still have viability against Jeskai Cat Combo. If it goes towards control, than you have access to things like Painful Truth, Gideon, and other threats control decks can't easily deal with- while you can go up on things likes anguished unmaking to make up for it. Natural state in the sideboard will readily deal with Mardu even better. Consuls will deal with combo even better.
Synergies:
Blossoming Defense goes a little further in this deck because of Rishkar (especially with Sylvan Advocate) because you can be tapped out and defend your board. The blow out potential is real. The lifelink from Harvester and the vents helps level the loss of life from the Spire and Unmaking. The maps, ballista, and clues, makes getting revolt pretty easy. This deck can pilot the Harvester really easily, allowing for some strong brick wall while you build your board against G/B and Mardu. Sylvan Advocate and WindCo naturally strong against an early grim flayer. Advo also lets you attack while being a pilot for a Harvester on defense, simulating the power of Heart of Kiran while giving both D and O. The map and Rishkar help enable a 23 land 3 color deck.
Other Golgari Decks:
I prefer this build over energy and delirium builds. Energy seems weaker in the meta, and I think delirium isn't as strong as this build. Ultimately, less vulnerable threats, and more options. Grim flayer's cost, and 2 toughness are a turn off for me. The delirium condition isn't something I want to push for in Abzan.
Where I think I need help:
Sylvan Advocate is kinda flex. Which is why he's a 3 of. I'm still trying to finagle a stream-lined version of this list and not 100% on the numbers. The vigilance, the stats, the cost, all relevant. But he has no counters synergy. Is he the next best 2 drop? The trample on grim is good, but not as good as the cost, stats, and vigilance on Advo.
Trying to find the right numbers, I want to keep the removal crammed in.
Maybes:
I was thinking, potentially Gifted Aetherborn, as lifelink + counters is a strong match against the meta. Avoiding shock, defending against grim flayer, deathtouch relevant against Gearhulks. I think the extra words and easy to cast Advocate is a better in this deck though.
Tireless Tracker was my go to at first, because I get more clues(T Inspect), the counters are relevant(Winding Co), it has a lot of synergy, and the extra card draw is good. But I feel like it's a better sideboard card as 3 mana for those beginning stats, seems a little lacking for this meta. Including advocate over tracker, also lowers my mana curve. Still probably good in the side.
Gideon, Ally of Zendikar is probably the strongest 4 drop in the game and this deck is creature heavy. The knight token can pilot the Harvester. He creates a diverse threat base. The Tokens are a risk-light place to put tokens. Problem is he is double white, a 4 drop, and not a creature.
Might be biased with Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim but I like cards with lots of text. Being able to sac creatures for life, helps to offset the life loss and aggro decks. The stats are relevant with the cost. The death touch is good. The sac ability also makes revolt happen easier (it's also a generic mana to use) The utter end will probably not come up much, but sacing a 6/6 verdurous ghulk in response to a unlicensed disintegration will feel okay and swinging in with a lifelink 5/7 asphere harvester to gain 11 life that turn might sneak up on you. Or even sacing some of your board if you REALLY want to get rid of a threat.
Ajani, Valiant Protecter has some sweet synergies with Walking Ballista and Winding co. +2 for a shock and/or +2 for 3 counters. Ajani's Ult turns into a game win if you throw all those counters on a ballista. Or you can +1 to help find one. If the meta shifts to be a little slower, I can see this cat becoming more relevant.
